[ad_1]
You know Vicky Garcia when she walks into the room. All the cruise planners in attendance wanted to grab the COO for a chat and a photo, and she gave them all time.
The travel industry is mourning the death of 56-year-old Garcia, who died on August 14, 2010 after a long illness. She will be remembered by many as a dedicated attorney with a kind personality who never stopped helping others succeed. Many also remembered how Garcia made people feel, not just herself.
Vicky Garcia (left) and Michelle Fee on stage at the 2018 Cruise Planners event. Source: Michelle F
“The bottom line of it — what did she make you feel? It matters,” said Michelle Fee, founder and CEO of Cruise Planners and a close friend of Garcia’s. “She made you feel important, that’s what she did. She made people feel important, everybody, it didn’t matter who you were, she gave her time, and I hope I can live out of her room. A legacy to her. I’m going to try.”
Michelle Sutter, Holland America Line’s vice president of North American sales and chief of staff, was one of those who witnessed firsthand Garcia’s ability to make others welcome.
Sutter spent most of her early career in the Canadian business sector before moving to the US seven years ago. Garcia was one of those who made them feel truly welcome.
“She made me feel special and important,” Sutter said. “And when I read about how she’s known other people for so much longer than I’ve known them, I’ve realized how much she’s made people feel, whether or not she’s ever known them.”
“Everyone knows and loves her.”
Garcia’s career in the industry spanned 30 years. She started as a cruise line reservation agent before moving into leadership roles with Royal Caribbean International and Norwegian Cruise Line.
Garcia first met Fee when she was in Norway.
Garcia used to work on a cruise line with her girlfriend and future husband, Carol Alexander, who had long said she planned to retire and become an agent for cruise planners (which she did). At the time, Fi needed someone to run her team’s department, and asked them if they had any suggestions. Finn asked if Garcia could apply or if this was a conflict of interest.
“And I said, ‘No, you’re hired. Come in and we’ll figure out the rest,'” Fie said.
Vicky Garcia (left) and Michelle Fee at Machu Picchu. Source: Michelle F
This happened 18 years ago in 2004. In 2013, Garcia became a partner at Cruise Planners.
Pay Garcia said he was committed to equality. For example, no one in the Cruise Planners office is called an “employee.” At Garcia’s insistence, they became known as “team members,” Fee said.
Garcia, a Cuban, was also a passionate advocate for diversity, the LGBTQ community, and the upliftment of women.
“But that doesn’t explain her at all,” said Fei. “She wanted to be seen as someone who was a leader, someone who helped make a difference. We feel like we did that at Cruise Planners, we built a company where people could be successful in life and help them get there. It was something she was very proud of.”
Garcia was dedicated to raising money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS) and, personally and with the help of industry executives hired by her mission, was responsible for raising over $2 million for the community.
Garcia chose LLS because so many have been affected by cancer, Fee said. Her theory was that if a cure could be found for blood cancer, a cure could also be found for other types of cancer.
While Garcia worked hard for her company and cause, she also loved a good time and a vodka martini. Some of Fey’s fondest memories of Garcia are being on stage with her at Cruise Planner events. Garcia often went off-script, dragging Bill and others into bits for on-the-spot reactions.
“It was the fun, crazy side that I think I missed the most, because she always made me laugh,” Fee said. “She always takes me out of my comfort zone, and I’m forever grateful to have had 18 wonderful years with her.”
Garcia is also fondly remembered by Cruise Planners franchise owners.
“What I think is amazing about Vicki is that she’s always an inspiration to you,” said Rick Carlson, franchise owner in Cape Cod, Mass. He is there to support you and help you see the positive, to help you look forward.
From right, Vicki Garcia and her husband, Carol Alexander, with Corey Ratley and his wife, Michael Consoli, franchise owners of Cruise Planners in Atlanta. Source: Michael Consoli
Atlanta franchise owner Michaela Consoli met Garcia at a franchise training event 18 years ago when she started at Cruise Planners. They immediately killed him and arranged their private vacation together. In fact, they share their wedding day: Garcia and Alexander and Consoli’s husband, Cory Ratley, had a double wedding ceremony.
Consoli described Garcia as a fun-loving and energetic person who loves the travel industry. She is very selfless when it comes to helping charities and the communities she lives in. She supports both new and old franchisees.
“It’s a real loss,” Consoli said. “It’s a loss to the industry. It’s a loss to everyone who knew her. She was just an icon, everyone knew and loved her.”
[ad_2]
Source link
